ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Reg. 6 NATRC ride results
[endurance] Reg. 6 NATRC ride results
Lucie A. Hess (lhess01@mail.coin.missouri.edu)
Mon, 13 May 1996 23:15:38 -0500 (CDT)
The Rock Creek Station NATRC Competitive trail ride was held in South
Central Nebraska, on April 27 and 28. It was another great event put on
by the Nebraska Endurance and Competitive Trail Ride Association.
Nearly
50 riders started the ride with only one pull.
This ride was the 10th
anniversary and boy, did we ever celebrate! I didn't remember that I had
been to the first one. When they asked how many of us had been there 10
years ago I didn't think I was there until I remembered my appy had
sweepstaked that ride (and that was usually few and far in between). So I
raised my had and received a new ballcap with the ride logo.
The ride
management went all out to entertain us on the trail. There were signs
at scenic overlooks, signs where things had happened to the trail marking
crew such as Diane's Leap and Dave's Split. You don't want to know what
it was that Dave split. There were places marked that they told ghost
stories about. (Lost Woman's Ghost).
This is a very historic place, we
actually were able to ride on sections of the Oregon Trail and in several
places the ruts are still visible.. Rock Creek Station is a State
Historical Park, made famous as a Pony Express Swing Station and a Stage
Coach Station. James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok began his career as a
gunfighter here. Let me tell you, the truth is not what was told in those
Dime novels.
The trail is very Hilly with many frequent climbs. We ride
on the Prairies and in Cedar Groves. You can see for miles up on top of
the hills and if you stop and think for a moment, you are transported
back to the days of covered wagons, wild open country and of course
Cowboys and Indians! The ride manager, John Schell, even dressed in
Native American costume and showed up on the trail unexpectedly. I can
still see him sitting on a completely still horse on the edge of a cliff
as we rode by down in the creek bottoms many, many feet below. I know
my silly Arab would have been dancing around, but his horse never moved a
muscle. It still gives me goosebumps.
The ride was timed fairly fast, 4
mph for Novice C.P. and 5mph for Open. We Novice/cp people had to hurry
the first day to come in on time!
The weather was good until Sun. pm.
after lunch. It started to drizzle and was hard rain by checkout.
Later,, the wind picked up to make the drive home a drive from Hell. To
say the least we stopped at a road side park and slept until morning.
It was a great ride, my horse did well metabolically and soundness wise,so
I decided to move him to open at the next ride. See the next ride
results for the wisdom of that idea. I know every one went home feeling
like they had a great time and we are planning to go back. It's a great
ride. Come join us next year. Til the next report,
Lucie Hess
Columbia, Missouri
Chief Black Arrow -retired Appy
Moonhill Dandi -current mount- 7/8 Arab